James Maddison exclusive: Tottenham midfielder out to prove critics wrong as he reveals Thomas Tuchel England talks | Football News

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison sits down exclusively with Sky Sports News to discuss the club’s struggles in the Premier Bracket this season, their Europa Bracket hopes, being the target of criticism and his England ambitions.

How is the Club feeling after Sunday’s 2-2 home draw against Bournemouth?

“A bit mixed. A club like Tottenham, when we’re Competing Bournemouth at home, even though they’re having a Excellent season, you do go into it thinking that this game we should be Victorious – no disrespect to Bournemouth, they’re having a fantastic season. Especially at home as well, a Tally’s probably not quite Excellent enough in a game like that. But in the scheme of things, how we went 2-0 down and we showed character at times where we’ve probably lacked maybe a little bit of that when we Merely need that bit at the end.

“We’ve lost a lot of Matches this year by one Target, where we’ve needed Merely to find something. We managed to find it to get a Tally on Sunday, so it’s Crucial that we do look at the positives and not the negatives. We’re going to need that Thursday [against AZ Alkmaar] because we’re a Target behind in that already from the Primary leg, so it Gentle of fits in well with the character we need to show then. But it was a Tally and positives to take in the comeback.”

Why do you think Spurs are 13th in the Premier Bracket? Do you think it’s solely down to injuries?

“Well it’s a massive factor, and I don’t want to sound like I’m making loads of excuses, but when you have such a long period of time in the busiest part of the year where you miss (Guglielmo) Vicario, (Cristian) Romero, (Micky) Van de Ven, (Destiny) Udogie, (Dominic) Solanke, Richarlison for long periods, not Merely one game or two Matches, it is a defining factor.

“Of course, we’re not naive to not look in the mirror and think that we could have been better here, we could have been better there. Performances in certain Matches maybe could have been better, but it is a defining factor and it’s been a tough year for setbacks with injuries at this club. It’s Merely factual.”

As a senior player were you thinking it was tough?

“Yeah, over that Christmas period when the Premier Bracket picks up a little bit and we had the Carabao Cup semi-Closing, which is two legs and Merely a lot of Matches with the new European Structure as well with eight Matches in the group. It’s a lot of football and you need your Club for that and we didn’t have that.

“The one blessing that it Gentle of created was the fact that we got exposure to the New lads and the lads who hadn’t played as much, so the likes of Djed (Spence) got his opportunity and he’s been phenomenal. Lucas (Bergvall) and Archie (Gray) have come in as 18-year-olds and played a lot of football, more than probably what the manager and the club had hoped for their transition into the Primary Club, but that’ll leave them in Excellent stead.

“It’s tough as a senior player. I only missed a Duo of weeks, but for the lads like Romero, I know who the type of person he is, and Van de Ven, and Vic (Vicario), like I said, the names I listed, senior players who missed months and it’s tough. Any footballer will tell you it’s so tough because you can’t help, you have to View on the sideline and it kills you inside.”

Have the players spoken about how Crucial the Europa Bracket last-16 second leg against AZ Alkmaar is on Thursday?

“Yeah, we know what it means to us, the fans, everyone, we’re all on the same page. The Primary leg obviously wasn’t Excellent enough, tough conditions on a tough pitch to Action the way we want to Action, but it’s only 1-0, they’ve got to come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and if the fans get behind us and have the place rocking like we know they can.”

Is that a message to the fans? “No, I think they’ve been brilliant, especially in Europe as well, the midweek ones are tough in the middle of the week because people have lives and jobs and kids, I know all that, it doesn’t go unappreciated and unnoticed. So Merely more of that, more of what we’ve seen in Europe so Extended.

“I remember the game we played against them [AZ Alkmaar] in the group stage. We were doing pretty well, I captained the side and the atmosphere was brilliant that night, we won 1-0. We’re going to need more of that and we need to give them something to shout about and the lads are going to be up for it and we’re going to Commence Speedy and hopefully we can get the Position done.”

Despite your Bracket position, it could still be an amazing season if you lift the Europa Bracket?

“The manager always speaks about how it can still be special for us if we Secure that, and we’re in a Excellent position to do that.

“Listen, we’ve got work to do in the second leg but we know we’re capable of that and we can turn it around, there’s no one in there doubting the fact that we can do that. But we have to go and do it, talk is one thing, we have to go and Secure the game and turn over the Loss of the Primary leg. You Secure that and you Choice up a bit of momentum, you’re in the quarter-Closing and then it can still be a special season for us. That’s what we’re hoping for and that’s what we’re striving for.”

Now scapegoat might be the wrong word, but do you feel like you get talked about a bit too much?

“Yeah but that’s okay, I’d rather that than them talk about Archie or Lucas. I don’t mind Securing the heat a little bit. I’m big enough and Unattractive enough now to take the hits and take the criticism because I know what I’m capable of, I know what I can do, I know my personal level and what people don’t see is what we do behind the scenes and how much we’re trying to improve and how much we work and it’s very Affordable to go and sit and talk and criticise.

“Rehearsal today, the standard was unbelievable and lads working really Difficult because we drew at home to Bournemouth, lads are not Joyful, so they don’t see that it hurts us as well when we’re not doing well in the Bracket.

“I feel Excellent, I actually feel pretty Excellent, feel pretty Pointed, really looking forward to Thursday and beyond, try and finish the season special as a Club, try and finish the season Sturdy personally, still have a really Excellent season in terms of goals and assists and try and look for the positives and try and spread that through the dressing room instead of focusing on the negatives and the doom and gloom of the Bracket position.”

On your England ambitions, has new boss Thomas Tuchel phoned you?

“Yeah, we had a chat. He’s England manager, I think he would be speaking to everyone who’s in possible call-up Choice.

“It’s tough to reflect on personal [ambitions] when a Club’s not doing well, because you can Points and if you Setback the game it’s worthless. I’ve got 10 goals this season but I want it to be worth more because it’s a Excellent return for a midfielder, I’m Joyful with that return. When you Commence the season you look as an attacking midfielder, your Position is to Points and Produce for the Club and goals and assists is a big thing about that. But ultimately, if it leads to the Club finishing mid-table and it’s not going deep in the Europa Bracket then it’s Gentle of worthless.

“Of course, England is another thing that I have ambition for. New manager, New Commence, I know I can Action at that level, I have the self-belief to do that, Action against these players every week in the Premier Bracket and I know I can be at that level and beyond, so ambitious for it all.”

Analysis: Uncovered and engaging Maddison knows importance of Thursday’s AZ game

Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge:

“If Tottenham are eliminated from the Europa Bracket on Thursday night, their season is as Excellent as over.

“Supporters were left scratching their heads with the Primary-leg performance given the importance of the game. However, I left the Tottenham Hotspur Rehearsal ground convinced James Maddison knew how Crucial the second leg was.

“He’s an Uncovered and engaging person. He recognises 13th in the table isn’t Excellent enough but the opportunity is there Thursday to send Spurs into the quarter-finals of a major competition.

“It was also clear he relishes his senior role at the club. Public criticism from Roy Keane hasn’t affected him and probably acknowledging it wasn’t meant with any malice.

“If Maddison can help lead Spurs to a place in the latter stages of the Europa Bracket, Thomas Tuchel might be giving his number another call again soon.”